Reflecting Light

We have investigated two questions in our science work. One question we had was about colour and if different colours were easier to see in low light. We know that without light we can not see. We wondered if we put different colour and types of paper inside boxes and cut a tiny peep hole in the box to see if some colours were easier to see than others.




We found that the shiny, sparkly (reflecting) papers, like foil etc were easy to see as the light bounced off them. We also noticed that dark colours on light and light colours on dark were easier to see. We talked about contrast and decided that lots of things like books are easier to read when print contrasts with the background colour.

To investigate reflection more we decided to play with mirrors one afternoon. With our thinking partners we took two mirrors and observed the light from the objects reflecting from one to the other, making a repeating image (to our eyes). We discussed the amazing phenomena of light our sight, that all images are reflected light bouncing off objects and traveling to our eyes. We did talk about colour too but this scientific concept is quite advanced, however, some children understood this.

Reflecting light to the ceiling, even through the classroom window (refraction).

We made some amazing discoveries and had lots of fun. We also realised that we (humans) get the best show in the world, we looked at how other animals see and what other light spectrums would look like. We all agreed that we are very fortunate to not only sense our world but to sense it in such a vibrant and amazing way.

Look at different lights on the electromagnetic light spectrum.

http://www.chromoscope.net/

How a dog sees etc.http://www.sciencealert.com/how-dogs-see-the-world-compared-to-humans

Our Finished Magic Boxes

It was great to see so many of our families at the end of term sharing assembly on the last Friday of the term. If you were not able to make it, here are a few photos of the inside worlds we created in our boxes which we shared along with our poems.

The children are now working on historical fiction picture books. This is the culmination of all of their learning about changes overtime to Dunedin and appreciating how the time we live in changes our perceptions. The children have been really enjoying the work and getting into character and the minds of a child living in Dunedin during each time period we learn about.

All of the map drawing work we have done has come in handy as the children draw maps, write a recount and draw objects of everyday life from each period of time. We are basing our books around what we have seen Nadia Wheatley do in her book about a small town in Australia. A picture of one of the time spreads from her book is below.